Eutrophication, primary production
and vertical export

Permanent lenke

Åpne

Dato

2005-01-06

Type

ChapterBokkapittel

Forfatter

Wassmann, Paul

Sammendrag

Introduction.
The effects of global and local changes are most
prominent at the land-sea margins where presently
population growth is greatest. For example, the
population of coastal counties of the USA has
roughly doubled since 1960 (Eos, 1992). This gives
rise to increased pressure on natural resources
and a large number of disturbances to coastal regions.
Presently, eutrophication of coastal waters
is probably the most important environmental
effect (Gesamp, 1991). The effects of nutrient
enrichment thoroughly change coastal ecosystems
and occur virtually worldwide. Nutrients move
across the land-sea margins at such high rates that
coastal waters and estuaries are the most fertilized
ecosystems on earth (Figure 9.1).